Reborn in 1979: I Raised a Fortune with Four Daughters

Chapter 66 Renting a Counter

Back home, Zhou Jiefang had already prepared dinner. Seeing that Zhaoyuan had brought back pig offal again, everyone ate dinner together. He busied himself cleaning the pig offal and pig's head meat. As it was getting dark, Zhaoyuan urged Zhou Jiefang to go home, telling him to go to the county town together the next day. He left the task of making braised pork and sausages to Lin Fangfang.

Zhao Yuan went to Zhao Jieyuan's house.

"Hey, have you finished planting in the fields at home, scholar?"

Zhao Yuan asked as soon as he entered the door.

"The work will be finished by tomorrow morning, with just one plot of land down the mountain. Zhaoyuan, have you eaten yet? Want some more? Let's have a drink together?"

Zhao Jieyuan's family is having dinner.

"No, you guys eat. Can Yu Hongmei help me manage the pigsty tomorrow? I bought a yard on the outskirts of the county town. Lin Fangfang will be going there to tidy up for a while. Zhou Jiefang should be leaving soon, so Hongmei will be in charge of the pigsty from now on."

Zhao Yuan said.

"Okay, I'll be there tomorrow. Congratulations, Zhaoyuan. When are you joining us? Let's all go housewarming party together."

Yu Hongmei stood up and made Zhaoyuan a cup of fennel tea.

"I'll just pick the nearest auspicious day, do a simple house renovation, and move in. I have a lot of things to do in the county town right now, and it's really inconvenient to travel there every day."

Zhao Yuan said.

"Then you'll be living in the county town from now on."

Zhao Jieyuan asked.

"I'll continue running back and forth. I've rented another courtyard in the county town, planning to try making braised dishes and sausages. Hey, Jieyuan, do you want to learn how to drive a tractor? I'll need someone to drive the tractor to haul goods later."

"I'll start learning once I'm done with this busy period."

Zhao Jieyuan said.

"Okay, Hongmei, you can start helping out tomorrow. I'll head back now."

Zhao Yuan returned home and cleaned up all the braised pork and ham sausages.

The next day, Zhou Jiefang explained some matters concerning the management of the pigsty to Yu Hongmei.

Zhao Yuan packed the braised ingredients and ham sausages he had prepared the night before into the car, and then headed straight for the county town with Lin Fangfang, Zhao Nana, and Zhou Jiefang.

Zhao Yuan parked the tractor in his yard, Lin Fangfang continued tidying up the house, and Zhao Yuan discussed with Zhou Jiefang about changing the well from a hand pump to a hand pump. After deciding on the items to buy, Zhao Yuan picked up some braised dishes and sausages, and the two of them drove the tractor out.

Zhou Jiefang went to buy what he needed, while Zhao Yuan went directly to the Xinhua Bookstore compound. Although it was Sunday, people nowadays weren't like Zhao Yuan in his previous life, where Saturdays and Sundays were rest days; they still worked as usual. Zhao Yuan carried the braised dishes and sausages straight to Director Ma Wenlong's office.

The office door was open, and Ma Wenlong was engrossed in reading a document.

"Dong dong dong."

Zhao Yuan stood at the door and knocked.

"Zhaoyuan, come in quickly."

When Ma Wenlong saw that it was Zhao Yuan, he stood up and greeted him with a big smile.

"Director Ma, you wanted to see me? These are some homemade braised dishes and sausages. Take them back for the children to try."

As he spoke, Zhao Yuan handed the braised dishes and ham sausages to Ma Wenlong.

"Zhaoyuan, why did you bring these things? This violates organizational principles and is unacceptable."

Ma Wenlong declined.

"I'm just sharing something I made with the kids. It's a free advertisement for my own products. What principle does that violate?"

Zhao Yuan said with a smile.

"Yes, you're planning to open a shop and advertise."

Ma Wenlong asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, it's in the planning stage, so please try it for me and give me feedback. That would be helping me."

Zhao Yuan said with a smile.

"Since you say so, Brother Zhao, I'll accept it and try it. Thank you."

Ma Wenlong said.

"Oh, there's something very important I need your help with today."

As Ma Wenlong spoke, he reached into his desk drawer and took out a document.

He gently placed the document on the table, then pushed it in front of Zhao Yuan, and said:

"The provincial chemical plant is planning to import a brand new production line from abroad. This is a huge project with a huge amount of funding required, and it is still in the negotiation stage. Therefore, they urgently need a professional who is fluent in English and can communicate smoothly with the foreign party to assist in the work. After discussion, the leaders finally selected you to take on this important task. Here, these are the relevant documents."

After saying this, Ma Wenlong handed the document to Zhao Yuan.

However, Zhao Yuan seemed somewhat troubled by the task assignment before him.

He frowned slightly, a bitter smile appearing on his face, and shook his head helplessly as he said to Ma Wenlong:

“Director Ma, in principle, the country needs me, and I should do my duty without hesitation. But I’ve been incredibly busy lately. On one hand, I’m dealing with numerous matters at the fireworks export company; on the other hand, the food factory is also in the midst of intensive preparations. I’m simply overwhelmed, without even a moment to catch my breath. You could say I’m barely able to keep up! Could you perhaps help me discuss with the provincial authorities again and find someone else to go? After all, I really can’t spare the time right now…”

In the end, Zhao Yuan couldn't help but let out a long sigh, his face full of undisguised sorrow.

"In that case, can we hand over the work here to someone else? The province must have given this matter careful consideration. After all, it involves such a large sum of money, and any mistake could cause incalculable losses to the country."

Ma Wenlong was caught off guard when Zhao Yuan refused.

"Director Ma, could you please call the provincial authorities first and ask if the leadership can replace him? If there's really no other way, I'll make time to go."

Zhao Yuan looked troubled as he spoke.

"Okay, I'll call the provincial government first and see."

Seeing that Zhao Yuan was indeed embarrassed, Ma Wenlong continued.

"Director Ma, these are my home and company phone numbers. Please call these numbers to contact me in the future."

As he spoke, Zhao Yuan wrote down two phone numbers on a piece of paper and handed them to Ma Wenlong. Then he walked out of the Xinhua Bookstore compound, drove his tractor, and went to find Zhou Jiefang.

Zhou Jiefang bought everything he needed and stood by the roadside waiting for Zhou Jiefang.

After loading everything onto the vehicle, the two drove the tractor back to the small courtyard.

Zhao Yuan and Zhou Jiefang unloaded everything from the truck and then worked together to convert the hand pump well into a pump well. The two cooperated very well and finished the conversion in half a day. Then they built a small pool next to the well and dug a small ditch to divert the water to the ditch outside the yard.

After finishing with the well business, Zhaoyuan kept a portion of the remaining braised dishes and sausages for lunch, and took the rest of the braised dishes to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Zhao Yuan found Director Hou Fengjiao.

"Director Hou, I brought some braised dishes and ham sausages for the children."

As he spoke, Zhao Yuan handed the vegetables in his hand to Hou Fengjiao.

"Brother Zhao, how can you keep giving me so much stuff?"

Hou Fengjiao waved her hands repeatedly.

"Keep it. It's something you made yourself that's not worth much, but it's good that the child likes it. You don't need to be so polite with me because of my relationship with Director Tu. I'm here to ask Director Hou for help."

Zhao Yuan said.

Director Hou took the items.

"What is it? I'll definitely help if I can."

Hou Fengjiao said.

"Starting next month, I'd like to rent a counter in the food section of the supply and marketing cooperative to sell braised dishes and ham sausages."

Zhao Yuan said.

"That's a good thing. With your skills, your business will definitely be good. We also hope that good products can be sold at the supply and marketing cooperative."

Hou Fengjiao was very happy when she heard about this.

"I also need Sister Hou to help me find two sales clerks who are good at selling goods. I will pay their salaries."

Zhao Yuan said.

"Okay, Sister Hou will keep a close eye on things for you."

Hou Fengjiao said.

"Sister Hou, these are my home and company phone numbers. Director Tu will call me when he gets back."

As he spoke, Zhao Yuan wrote down two phone numbers for Hou Fengjiao.

After thanking Hou Fengjiao, Zhaoyuan drove the tractor back to the courtyard.